Junior Sara Weiss spent her summer studying kinesiology and focusing on exercise under the Costa Rican sun.
Weiss studied abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica, where she took a course centered around personal fitness and wellness. The course was led by Senior Lecturer Anna Valdes and covered basic human physiology, nutrition, health science and behavior change concepts, all examining health and wellness in the U.S. as compared to Costa Rica.
While abroad, Weiss participated in strength training, yoga and kickboxing as part of the course’s curriculum, as well as excursions that balanced fun and exercise, like ziplining to a waterfall in La Fortuna, hiking local trails in La Chambre and riding an all-terrain vehicle.
Weiss, who plans to be a high school athletic trainer, says that she finished the course with new skills to bring into her future career in healthcare.
“One of our assignments was how to properly organize exercise plans for yourself, and that will be really useful for athletes,” Weiss says. “It’s going to help me a lot in athletic training to plan exercises for specific rehabs for athletes and to be more mindful of what’s going to help them persevere through their injury or whatever they have going on.”
Another memorable section of the course was the daily exercise breaks. Weiss said that Valdes would periodically pause lectures for students to recharge by doing exercises like jumping jacks, lunges and squats.
“Get your exercise snacks to move your muscles, and clear your mind,” says Valdes.
Weiss says the most impactful part of the coursework was the lessons on nutrition. As a Columbian, Weiss said her favorite cultural foods are not always the healthiest, but Valdes taught her there are ways to still enjoy the food she loves.
“I thought it was really interesting that you can still make what you were used to eating growing up, but just in a healthier way,” Weiss says. “I think what impacted me the most was knowing how to nourish your body properly.”
Valdes stressed the importance of making lifestyle choices that promote body movement, along with understanding dietary needs. Weiss says this advice will help her connect with patients by offering healthier options that are not only effective but also enjoyable.
Your choices and habits are your GPS to your future self,” says Valdes. “Set them to where you want to be.”
In recent years, the College of Health Professions and Sciences has expanded international education programs to include five different countries: Italy, Barcelona, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Taiwan. These study abroad and clinical shadowing abroad programs allow students to gain new skills in an international setting while receiving credits toward their degree and experiencing new cultures.
Students interested in participating in Summer 2026 international studies programs can find out more and apply on the Study Abroad and Clinical Shadowing Abroad Programs’ website.
